148 A NATURAL HISTORY 



One may, with the naked Eye, fometimes fee this little In- 

 fed: difcharge its Venom, in which, fays the ingenious Dr. Mead, 

 by the help of a Glafs, I can cafily difcover a great Number of 

 mijiute Salts foating. In Brazil, Bees are diftinguifh'd into twelve 

 kinds, among which are fome that fting in a mod furious and 

 fatal manner, called Mateecas by the Indians, 



I N Ceylon in the Eajl Indies, are feveral Bees, the largeft are of 

 a brighter Colour than ours; they make their Combs on the Boughs 

 of Trees : At proper Seafons, the Inhabitants hold Torches under 

 them, till they drop down, which they carefully gather, boil and 

 eat, and are accounted excellent Food. In ^lateinala are Bees and 

 Honey of a white Colour, and fome without a Sting, fays the 

 Hiftorian *. 



II. T o the Bee, I add the Wafj), which, as it Is fomething^ 

 larger, makes a deeper Wound ; it differs alfo from it in its Food, 

 which is Flefli and Carrion, when it can begot ; whereas the Bee 

 regales itfelf with delicious Entertainments, and enriches its Fa- 

 mily with all the Glories of the vegetable Kingdom. From whence 

 is the Honey ? I anfwer. That in Flowers is found a vifcid fweet 

 Juice, and accordingly we fee Children gather Cowilips, Honey- 

 fuckles, and fuck the Honey from them. The Bees vifit all 

 Flowers within their Reach, and putting it in their Trunks, fuck, 

 out the Honey, with which they load their Stomachs, to be dif- 

 charg'd, and laid up in their Combs. Among the Ancients, Ho- 

 ney was taken for a Dew that fell on Flowers ; but this is a 

 miftake, becaufe the Bees only gather it after the Sun is up, when 

 there is no Dew left, or very little. 



IIL The Hornet is yet more dangerous, and has been known 

 to purfue a Sparrow, and kill it, and then fuck its Blood. The 

 Hornet and Wafp have ftrong Jaws toath'd, by which they can 

 dig into Fruit?, for Suftenancej yea, and into harder Subfianccs, 

 for Quarters 



If you take a Bee, a Wafp, or Hornet, and gently fqueeze 

 the Tail, fo that you can fee the Scing, you may perceive a Drop 

 of tranfparent Liquor at the very end oF it ; which if wiped off, 

 you fliall foon fee it rcnew'd, ;hat Liquid palling down the Ca- 



5 viiy 



* KierernhergiuSy p. i%6. 



